Customer Reviews

The Hidden Lives of Congregations: Discerning Church Dynamics

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Israel Galindo's "Hidden Lives of Congregations" affords an excellent overview of the Christian church and its followers, diagnosing the cause and effect of the life, growth and attrition of churches in America. Its in-depth analysis of the mindsets of the average churchgoer, the clergy and the infrastructure of the church provides us with an essential profile of the movers and shakers that make the modern church the cornerstone of American society it is today. Yet we are introduced to the paradox as to how conformity to industrial paradigms result in the failed mission of the church in its purest form. This social phenomenon is explored in an informative and comprehensive dialogue that makes this a worthy addition to any Christian library.

The author leads us through an exploratory narrative as we trace the paths of ministers and their congregations who begin on the home church level, evolving into storefront ministries, growing into the need for their own church building, and finally expanding into property development to suit their advancing requirements. Only we find that the transition results in the church morphing into a mirror image of the secular corporation, requiring a board of directors to supercede the elders of the church in ministering to its greater needs. The pastor grows more detached from his teeming congregation, his leaders forced to spend more time administering to the needs of its members than pursuing its evangelical and community goals. As a result, the monolithic superchurch achieves corporate success as its profits soar, but ultimately becomes a failure to God and man.

"Hidden Lives" can be seen as an indictment of the consumer-friendly megachurch system that dominates the American religious scene today. The author depicts how idealistic ministers become discouraged and demoralized by the myriad of responsibilities thrust upon their shoulders, faced with exponential demands of their overgrown ministries. The book suggests a return to the apostolic vision of Pauline doctrine, the smaller church being more flexible and less encumbered as it pursues its simple mission to preach the Gospel to all nations. Providing a variety of social services in ministering to the needs of its followers is just one of the many excesses that hinder the church from its soul-saving mission. This book dissects the problem at its root causes and gives every clergyman the opportunity to avoid many of the pitfalls on the road ahead.

This is an excellent gift item for Christian workers and clergymen, as well as sociology buffs and casual readers alike. Don't miss out on this well-written, in-depth study; your home church will thank you for it.

After 20 years in pastoral ministry, preparing for retirement, I wish I were back in seminary, with Galindo's book. He has given me a hugely helpful way to understand what goes on in churches. I'm buying a copy for my district superintendent, and my friend who's just starting seminary.

I do have a question: if a pastor canot "cast a vision" for a church until she's been there five years, how does that work for us United Methodists and our brief-tenure itinerant system? And I wish Galindo had used a few more examples, real-people illustratons of his oobservations. Other than that, I'm unequivocaly enthusiastioc - and I do plan to start over, reading the book again!

This book opened my eyes to a lot of the enfighting that you see in churches. It has also enhanced my thoughts about the spirituality of church and why they worship the way they do.